Table of Contents
Salt and Sodium Sodium, Potassium, Phosphorus: A Reference for the Dialysis Patient

Consume no more than ________ mg. sodium each day.

Edema: swelling in the tissues due to water retention.

 

Sodium is a major mineral needed to maintain water balance

Too much sodium in your body will make you thirsty and cause you to drink too much fluid. Rapid weight gain usually means you have had too much sodium and water. Edema, high blood pressure, and in extreme cases heart failure are caused by too much sodium.
REMEMBER! Thirst is not an indication of how much you should drink!

MSG: monosodium glutamate; a flavor intensifier

 

 

 

 

1 teaspoon of salt contains 2000 mg. of sodium!

 

 

Sodium is found in most foods but in varying amounts. Most foods in their natural state, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, contain only a small amount of sodium. Some sodium occurs naturally in fresh meat like beef, veal, pork, poultry, and fish and in milk. On the other hand, food that has been processed is usually high in sodium because it is frequently added during processing.

A high concentration of sodium is found in table salt (sodium chloride), soda, baking powder, and MSG. Condiments such as catsup, relishes, pickles, mustard, horseradish, soy sauce, and flavored salts like garlic salt are generally high in sodium as are prepared and convenience foods, and food from fast food restaurants. Avoid foods that are cured or in a brine solution.

Foods containing "hidden" salt or sodium may not taste salty but they can still make you thirsty.

DO NOT use "salt substitute". It contains high amounts of potassium.

Read food labels à look for ingredients containing the word "sodium" (like disodium phosphate) to detect hidden sodium.

When buying canned goods, choose low-sodium varieties. Rinse regular canned vegetable well before cooking to decrease their sodium content.

The following foods and seasonings contain high amounts of sodium and should be consumed sparingly.

Barbecued, Cured, Salty

Bacon (beef, pork, turkey)

Caviar

Meat or Fish

Ham (pork or turkey)

Herring

Hot dogs (beef, pork, poultry)

Sardines

Lunch meats (regular bologna,

salami, pickle-loaf, Spam, etc.)

Sausage (beef, pork, poultry,

Vienna, venison, etc.)

Dried chipped beef

Salt pork

Anchovies

Hot links

Kosher meats

pepperoni

Canned Main Dishes &

Corned beef, corned beef hash

Bouillon (canned, cubes)

Other Canned Foods

canned chili, pastas, stews

Pork and beans

deviled ham, potted meats

Hominy

Soups (canned, dehydrated,

Pickled vegetables (pickles,

dried)

relish, sauerkraut, olives,

Consommé, canned broth

okra, beets, jalapenos

Salty Bread Products

Snack foods (corn ships, potato

Salted popcorn

chips, etc.)

Packaged side-dishes (Rice-A-

Saltine crackers

Roni, noodle mixes,

Pretzels, salted

macaroni and cheese)

Seasonings & Sauces

Salt, sea salt

Tobasco sauce

Onion salt

Worcestershire sauce

Celery salt

Chili sauce

Garlic salt

Soy sauce

Lemon pepper

Steak sauce

Meat tenderizers & extracts

Barbecue sauce

Puoltry seasoning

Taco sauce

Accent (MSG)

Tartar sauce

Prepared horseradish

Teriyaki sauce

A-1 sauce

Prepared mustard

Catsup

Others

Pizza

Salted nuts and snacks

Pot pies

Tomato and vegetable juices

Cheese spreads

Softened water

Chip and vegetable dips

Baking powder

Frozen dinners

Baking soda

Frozen entrees and side-dishes

Processed cheeses (Velveeta,

etc.)

Recipes for Salt Shaker Substitutes

For all of the following recipes, blend in a food processor or blender until the mixture is fine enough to pour out of a salt shaker.
 
  1. 3 tsp. each of: paprika, dry mustard, parsley, onion powder


    2. 1 tsp. each of: garlic powder, basil
    1 Þ tsp. white pepper
    ä tsp. thyme

  2. 2 Þ tsp each of: paprika, garlic powder, dry mustard

    3. 5 tsp. onion powder
    Þ tsp. white pepper
    ä tsp. celery seed

  3. Note: This blend is great for meats and vegetables.
    4.
    Þ tsp. cayenne pepper
    1 tbsp. garlic powder
    1 tsp. each of: basil, parsley, onion powder, thyme, sage, marjoram, savory black pepper, mace

  4. 3 tsp. thyme
    1 Þ tsp. sage
    2 Þ tsp. rosemary
    3 tsp. marjoram

  5. 1 tsp. celery seed

    6. 2 Þ tsp. each of: marjoram, savory
    2 è tsp. thyme
    1 Þ tsp. basil

  6. Þ tsp. each of: thyme, marjoram, celery seed, garlic powder

    7. ä tsp. each of: onion powder, curry powder, dill weed
    3 tsp. paprika

  7. 1 tsp. of each of: thyme, sage, rosemary, tarragon

    8. 1 Þ tsp. each of: savory, marjoram

  8. 2 tsp. each of: thyme, rosemary, marjoram

    9. 2 Þ tsp. savory
    1 Þ tsp. sage

  9. pepper
    garlic powder
    onion powder
    dill or tarragon
    basil
    nutmeg or cloves
    cayenne or chili powder

Seasoning Food without Salt

Herbs and spices add only flavor to foods. You can use them freely in cooking or at the table. You can purchase commercial blends or individual spices and herbs to add during meal preparation. The following chart is helpful in determining which spices to use for which foods.

Allspice

Spice cakes, and cookies, plums, peaches, apple pies, breads, sausages, beef, lamb, oysters, pork, stews, beets, carrots, sweet potatoes, winter squash

Anise

Cookies, cakes, breads

Basil

Italian foods, beef, eggs, fish, liver, poultry, soups, stews, cabbage, green beans, green peas, summer squash, tomatoes, white potatoes, vegetable salad, pasta

Bay Leaves

Meat stews, soups, game, pot roasts, beef, chicken, fish, lamb, veal, sauces, artichokes, green beans, beets, carrots, eggplant, onions, white potatoes, summer squash, tomatoes

Caraway Seeds

Beef, goose, pork, tuna, Eggs, noodles, breads, asparagus, cooked potatoes, beets, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, cabbage, turnips, winter squash, salads, soups, cookies

Cardamom

Spice cakes and cookies, apple and pumpkin pies, winter squash, sweet potatoes

Celery Seeds

Cold vegetable salads

Chervil

Green salads, fish, shellfish, chicken, eggs, peas, green beans, tomatoes

Chives

Scalloped potatoes, salads, meat, tuna, eggs, cottage cheese, baked potatoes, potato salad

Chili Powder

Meat stews, soups, eggs, beef, corn, eggplant, lima beans, onions, Spanish sauces, tomatoes

Cilantro (corriander leaves)

Rice, fish, shellfish, poultry, vegetables, salsa, salads

Cinnamon

Spice cakes, cookies, breads, fruit and squash pies, custard, fruit sauces, carrots, winter squash, sweet potatoes, rice

Cloves

Spice cakes, cookies, quick breads, fruit pies, fruit sauces, beef, chicken, fish, pork, beets, sweet potatoes, winter squash, tomatoes, peas

Coriander Seeds

Whole for pickles; Ground for soups, rice, fish, shellfish, poultry, vegetables, salsa, salads

Cumin

Curried vegetables, fish, lamb, beef, chili with meat, coleslaw, potato dishes

Curry Powder

Chicken, eggs, fish, meats, carrots, cauliflower, corn, green beans, lima beans, onion, tomatoes

Dill

Seeds in rice and fish dishes; Leaves with eggs, seafood, chicken, sauces, cucumbers, green beans, cabbage, beets, cauliflower, peas, salads, tomatoes, turnips, white potatoes

Fennel

Breads, cakes, cookies, oily fish, soup, vegetables

Garlic/Garlic Powder

(NO GARLIC SALT) fish, meats, soups, salads, dressings, tomatoes, bread

Ginger

Ground in cakes, cookies, fruit and squash pies; crystallized and preserved in cakes and cookies; fresh (sliced or grated) in marinades and with fish, poultry, pork, cornish hen, lamb, veal, pork and vegetables

Lemon/Lime

Fish, asparagus, broccoli, green beans, salads

Mace

Spice cakes and cookies, fruit desserts, carrots, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, summer squash, potatoes, hot bread

Marjoram

Fish, lamb, beef, pork, veal, poultry, eggs, vegetables, tomato sauce

Mint

Lamb, cabbage, carrots, peas, white potatoes

Mrs. Dash/Papa Dash

Beef, pork, poultry, eggs, vegetables

Mustard (dry)

Beef, chicken, eggs, fish, pork, sauces, asparagus, baked beans, beets, broccoli, brussels, sprouts, peas, salads, white potatoes

Nutmeg

Beef, chicken, cottage cheese, fruits, cream sauces, and soups, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, spinach, brussels sprouts, onions, cakes, cookies, pies, pastries, custard, eggnog

Onion/Onion Powder

(NO ONION SALT) meats, salads, vegetables

Oregano

Meats, meat loaf, meat sauces, fish, poultry, cheese, eggs, vegetable soup, baked beans, green beans, broccoli, cabbage, peas, tomatoes, mushrooms, peppers, summer squash, eggplant

Paprika

Cooked salads, salad dressings, sauces, soups, fish, shellfish, poultry, meats, eggs

Parsley

Soups, stocks, cream and tomato sauces, salads, salad dressing, poultry, game, meats, fish, shellfish, eggs, most vegetables

Poppy Seeds

Cakes, cookies, breads, noodles

Rosemary

Game, poultry, meats, mushrooms, potatoes, stuffing

Saffron

Fish soups, stews, tomato and cream soups, couscous, cakes, breads

Sage

Stuffing, chicken, duck, goose, pork, sausage

Savory

Meat loaf, sausage, poultry, eggs, cauliflower, tomatoes, onions

Tarragon

Chicken, veal, fish, shellfish, eggs, tomatoes, mushrooms, carrots

Thyme

Fish chowder, fish, shellfish, sausage, poultry, tomatoes, eggplant, mushrooms

Turmeric

Curry dishes, pickles, relishes, rice dishes. Added to prepared mustard and curry powders.

Wine

Fish, meat, spaghetti sauce, other sauces, salads